Author Topic: Atlas V 541 - NROL-42 - VAFB SLC-3E - Sep 24, 2017 05:50 UTC (Sep 23 2250 PDT)  (Read 54977 times)

Offline jacqmans

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Atlas V to Launch NROL-42

•Atlas V NROL-42 Mission ArtworkRocket: Atlas V 541
•Mission: NROL-42
•Launch Date: Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017
•Launch Time: 10:38 p.m. PDT
•Live Broadcast: Stay tuned for how you can watch live
•Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 3, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Launch Notes: This launch will be ULA’s sixth of 2017 and 121st overall. NROL-42 will be the 25th mission that ULA has launched for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since the company was founded in 2006. This mission will mark the 73rd Atlas V launch since its inaugural launch on Aug. 21, 2002.

Launch Updates: To keep up to speed with updates to the launch countdown, dial the ULA launch hotline at 1-877-852-4321 or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch; hashtags #AtlasV and #NROL42.


Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go NROL-42!
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

Offline Targeteer

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Is that the shortest available fairing?
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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A couple more photos released by ULA

Offline Newton_V

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Is that the shortest available fairing?
Yes, the 68 ft.  Others are 77 ft. and 86 (which hasn't flown)

Offline catdlr

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The following is a media update from the United Launch Alliance (ULA). Please direct all questions or comments regarding this update to the ULA.


"Good afternoon - everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V NROL-42 launch in support of national security. The mission, for the National Reconnaissance Office, is set to lift off on an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Sept. 21 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch time is 10:38 p.m. PDT."

"ALL TIMES PACIFIC
TRANSMIT TEST – SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
12:00 – 12:30 P.M.

LAUNCH – SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
BARS AND TONE – 9:47 P.M.
PROGRAM START – 10:18 P.M.
TRANSMISSION FOR DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITON
SATELLITE: SES 3
TRANSPONDER: 24
BAND: C-Band Digital
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
HD BANDWIDTH: 18 MHz (Half Transponder ‘CD’)
UPLINK FREQ: 6,414.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4,189.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE: 13
FEC: ¾
DATA RATE: 17.9705
DVBS-QPSK
MPEG-2
AUDIO EMBEDDED"
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Offline input~2

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EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
0455Z TO 0639Z DAILY 22 THRU 25 SEP
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 31-35N 119-03W, 31-29N 119-21W,
32-59N 119-59W, 33-05N 119-41W.
B. 23-34N 113-31W, 22-52N 115-18W,
25-26N 116-32W, 26-09N 114-44W.
C. 07-14N 104-14W, 05-34N 108-14W,
10-11N 110-11W, 11-51N 106-09W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250739Z SEP 17.//

Authority: WESTERN RANGE 142322Z SEP 17.

Date: 180355Z SEP 17
Cancel: 25073900 Sep 17

Offline input~2

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Centaur deorbit area

SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 05.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1506Z TO 1627Z DAILY 22 THRU 25 SEP
IN AREA BOUND BY
52-13S 142-32E, 50-39S 145-30E,
45-58S 139-47E, 47-23S 136-55E
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251727Z SEP 17.//

Authority: WESTERN RANGE 142322Z SEP 17.

Date: 180420Z SEP 17
Cancel: 25172700 Sep 17

Online Chris Bergin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

ATLAS V LAUNCH SCHEDULED FROM VANDENBERG

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch a
United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance
Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 on Thursday, Sept. 21, with a
launch window opening at 10:38 p.m. PDT. 

Col. Gregory Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, will be the launch
decision authority.

"This launch is the culmination of many months of work by United Launch
alliance, the National Reconnaissance Office and the 30th Space Wing," said
Wood. "All of Team Vandenberg is dedicated to mission success and proud to
play a part in delivering these capabilities to our nation."

The 4th Space Launch Squadron executes integrated launch operations with a
focus on mission assurance for this launch operation. 

"This launch is a prime example of teamwork by multiple organizations that
have worked around the clock to assure mission safety and security," said
Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "Given the
dedication of the men and women have worked to ensure readiness of the
launch vehicle and payload, we're on track for a successful launch."
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
ULA's Atlas V launch of NROL-42 from VAFB still on track for 10:38 pm Pacific Time Sept 21, though weather is only 40% favorable.

https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/910101754552954882

Edit to add: according to forecast attached a few posts below it's actually the other way around, ie 40% POV so 60% GO.
« Last Edit: 09/20/2017 08:43 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online zubenelgenubi

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Ted Molczan has published his calculated NROL-42 pre-launch elements on Seesat-l.

The (apparent) previous launch of this payload type was NROL-35 in December 2014.  Observations from that launch are used to produce these elements.

NROL-35 launch thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36303.0

If the launch is delayed be weather,
Quote
Assuming a planar launch window, in the event of a launch delay, the time of launch will move earlier by 4 to 5 min. per day.

« Last Edit: 09/20/2017 02:03 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline catdlr

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 LAUNCH ALERT

                              Brian Webb
                  [email protected]
                        www.spacearchive.info

                             2017 September 19 (Tuesday) 19:46 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                     THURSDAY VANDENBERG LAUNCH

An Atlas V rocket carrying a classified payload is scheduled for
launch from south Vandenberg AFB this Thursday evening at 22:38 PDT.

Following lift-off, the rocket will climb vertically for several
seconds before it begins a gradual turn and heads over the ocean. If
the launch is successful, the Atlas will place the NROL-42 payload
into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Weather permitting, the launch could be visible as far away as San
Francisco, Mammoth, and San Diego, Calif.

People in very quiet locations in coastal Santa Barbara and Ventura
Counties and the western Santa Monica mountains may hear a distant,
muffled rumble or perhaps a sonic boom from the launch some time
between T+4 and T+12 minutes.

Members of the public desiring a close-up view of the launch will
probably congregate west of Lompoc in the vicinity of highway 246
(west Ocean Avenue) and Union Sugar Road. However, since this area is
near the coast, there is a possibility that the liftoff will be hidden
by low clouds or fog.

Regardless of where you plan to go to view the launch, allow yourself
enough time to get there well before liftoff. After you arrive, be
aware of your surroundings and possible hazards such as traffic.

For launch status and countdown information, go to:

      spaceflightnow.com

      www.ula.com

For information on viewing Vandenberg rocket and missile launches, go
to:

      www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm

During a launch earlier this year, Pete Heins, N6ZE, discovered the
countdown feed was delayed by approximately 75 seconds. Rather than
relying on a feed for launch cueing, use a GPS receiver or another
source to obtain the exact time. You can also set your watch to the
exact time from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(www.nist.gov).

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                           SECURITY POLICY

Launch Alert does not intentionally publish sensitive, potentially
sensitive, or inside information. All information comes from open
sources or is approved for public release.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                             TIME FORMAT

All times in this newsletter are given in Pacific Time using a 24-hour
format based on military time. Under this system, regular time is
expressed as follows:
                                            24-hour
                        Regular Time        Format
                    ---------------------   -------
                    12:00 a.m. (midnight)    00:00
                    6:00  a.m.               06:00
                    12:00 p.m. (noon)        12:00
                    6:00  p.m.               18:00

No distinction is made between Pacific Standard Time and Pacific
Daylight Time.

For assistance in converting military time to regular time, go to:

    www.spacearchive.info/military.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2017, Brian Webb. All rights reserved. No portion of this
newsletter may be used without identifying Launch Alert as the
source and providing a functioning hyperlink or text that point to
http://www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm.
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Weather forecast:

Quote
L-2 Day Forecast – 19 Sep 2017:
T-0 Forecast: A deep trough will move over the range on Thursday throughout the count, with the center of the trough passing over SLC-03 by T-0. This lower pressure will begin to mix out the marine layer and cause stronger surface winds. Throughout the count, the remnants of the marine layer will cause a slight reduction in visibility with patchy fog. Additionally, low stratus and stratocumulus will be present by T-0. Winds will be out of the northwest between 12 – 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots at the surface. Temperatures will be between 55F and 60F at T-0. Max upper level winds will be out of the west at 95 knots from 39,000 to 40,000 feet. The current space weather index is at standard background levels. Overall POV is 40% with Launch Visibility and Ground Winds being the constraints of concern.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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In case you were wondering:

Quote
#NROL42 Mission Patch depicts a grizzly bear in motion, representing the unceasing motion of a satellite along its orbital path.

https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/910576611379994625

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Online zubenelgenubi

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In case you were wondering:

Quote
#NROL42 Mission Patch depicts a grizzly bear in motion, representing the unceasing motion of a satellite along its orbital path.

https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/910576611379994625
??? , ok.
Cold-climate grizzlies (brown bears) hibernate for 5-7 months of the year.
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Online Chris Bergin

ULA launch readiness review was completed today everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V NROL-42 launch in support of national security. The mission, for the National Reconnaissance Office, is set to lift off on a ULA Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Sept. 21 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today’s L-1 weather forecast continues to show 60% favorable conditions for launch. The launch time is 10:38 p.m. PDT.
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Offline Newton_V

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Got a great tour out at the pad today.  Got some pics with mama bear, walked out on the mast, stuck my head up an SRB nozzle (they look a lot bigger up close).   Makes it all worth it.
It was REALLY windy out there today.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Weather forecast issued L-1, still 60% GO:

Quote
L-1 Day Forecast – 20 Sep 2017:
T-0 Forecast: A deep trough will move over the range on Thursday throughout the count, with the center of the trough passing over SLC-03 by T-0. This lower pressure will begin to mix out the marine layer and cause strong surface winds. Throughout the count, the remnants of the marine layer will cause a slight reduction in visibility with patchy fog. Additionally, low stratus and stratocumulus will be present by T-0. Winds will be out of the northwest between 15 – 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots at the surface. Temperatures will be between 55F and 60F at T-0. Max upper level winds will be out of the west at 100 knots from 37,000 to 38,000 feet. The current space weather index is at standard background levels. Overall POV is 40% with Launch Visibility and Ground Winds being the constraints of concern.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Haven’t found this image with a Google search so think it’s new:

Quote
The #AtlasV stands 196 feet tall or about 20 stories and weighs more than 1 million pounds fully fueled. #NROL42

https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/910935457768361984

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